COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Ishan Kishan produced a masterclass of aggressive batting, smashing 77 off just 40 deliveries to propel India to a commanding 61-run victory over Pakistan in Match 27 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on February 15.

The Group A clash, arguably the most anticipated fixture of the tournament's opening round, turned into a one-sided affair as India's explosive batting and disciplined bowling proved far too much for a Pakistan side captained by Salman Ali Agha.

India's innings did not begin smoothly. Pakistan struck early when skipper Agha himself dismissed world No. 1 ranked T20I batter Abhishek Sharma for a duck, sending shockwaves through the sold-out stadium. But Kishan, batting with fearless intent, seized control of the match from the moment he walked to the crease.

The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter unleashed an extraordinary array of strokes on a slow, spin-friendly pitch that troubled most other batters on the day. Kishan's fifty came off a mere 27 balls, the third-fastest in the history of India-Pakistan T20 Internationals. His knock featured 10 boundaries and three towering sixes, leaving the Pakistani bowling attack in disarray. Suryakumar Yadav chipped in with a valuable 32, Shivam Dube contributed 27, and Tilak Varma added 25 off 24 balls to push India to 175 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs.

Kishan's performance earned him the Player of the Match award, making him the first Indian wicketkeeper-batter in T20 World Cup history to receive the honor. His innings will be remembered as one of the finest played in the storied rivalry between the two cricketing giants.

Pakistan's response with the bat was dismal from the outset. The run chase never gained momentum as India's bowlers operated with clinical precision. Pakistan lost four wickets inside the powerplay, with openers Farhan and Saim Ayub, captain Agha, and the experienced Babar Azam all back in the pavilion with just 38 runs on the board.

Hardik Pandya set the tone with the ball, claiming 2 for 16 with early breakthroughs. Jasprit Bumrah, widely regarded as the finest fast bowler in white-ball cricket, was at his miserly best with figures of 2 for 17. Spin duo Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy shared four wickets between them, strangling Pakistan through the middle overs. Only Usman Khan showed any resistance with a fighting 44 off 34 balls, but his effort was merely a footnote in what was a comprehensive Indian victory. Pakistan were bundled out for 114 in just 18 overs.

The result confirmed India's qualification for the Super Eights stage of the tournament and extended their extraordinary T20 World Cup record against Pakistan to eight wins from nine encounters. For Pakistan, the defeat raises serious questions about their batting depth and ability to perform under pressure in major ICC events.

Elsewhere in Group A, two-time champions West Indies also secured their Super Eights berth with an impressive victory over Nepal, while the United States kept their qualification hopes alive with a convincing 31-run win over Namibia in Chennai.

As the tournament moves into its decisive phase, India's formidable combination of Kishan's explosive batting and their world-class bowling attack makes them one of the clear favorites to lift the trophy. The Super Eights stage promises even fiercer competition, but on the evidence of this performance in Colombo, few teams will relish the prospect of facing this Indian side.